480 speedometer sensor change - advice please

What is the best way to go about changing the speedo sensor on a 480 1993 2litre ES.

The Haynes manual is pretty much useless and I dont know whether to go in from the top or underneath .
Will I need to dismantle part of the engine or driveshafts to get access?
Had a look at the engine it seems pretty cramped. Will be replacing with a brand new sensor.

Urgent advice sought as I will be working on my daughters 480 very soon.

thanks.

[guitarcarfanatic]

Hi Jim,

Check out the 480 owners club forum http://volvo480.dragons.org.uk/forum/index.php

Just do a search or post.

I havent done the job myself but I seem to recall you need to attack the beastie from underneath. I think you need a driveshaft out and then you reach up over the gearbox and I think it's clipped in.

Try the 480 owners forum though and you will get a definate answer though!

Rob

[guitarcarfanatic]

Have you tried a different set of dash clocks though? This is the normal cause of faulty speedo. Simple 10 minute switch. Might even be able to repair the old set if your any good with a soldering iron. Once again do a search on the 480 forum. This is a very common problem and I think there are photo guides to re soldering the bad PCB joints.

many thanks especially to steve thompson for the emial and photo.
definately not the speedo as i swopped one around and it was working.got out the tile cutter and sliced a mirror down to size and examined the sensor . the problem is the wire sheathing looped round and melted against the engine block. so i have to replace the sensor (doing this in an hours time).
weird the nut holding the sensor plate in place seems to need an 8mm allen key?
will let you know how i get on

result speedo change completed in 90 minutes start to finish .
was a 6mm allen key not 8 as originally thought and I didnt need to dsimantle anything except to disconnect one electric cable.

well pleased.